American Doctor holds the clearest early edge in the 2027 Best Documentary Feature race thanks to its Sundance premiere, multiple audience and journalism awards, and Watermelon Pictures acquisition, which has translated into strong trader consensus around its timely Gaza medical-aid story and director Poh Si Teng’s track record. Once Upon a Time in Harlem follows closely on the strength of its rare multi-festival sweep and the compelling backstory of unearthed Harlem Renaissance footage, while One in a Million, Musk, and Nuisance Bear sit in a tight pack behind them. The broad field remains fluid this far from nominations, with momentum likely to shift on fall festival receptions, guild precursors, and the documentary branch’s historical preference for topical or formally ambitious entries that build sustained critical support.